Ice cream packaging machine



S. H. BERCH ET AL ICE CREAM PACKAGING MACHINE June 1, 1954 Q l5 Shee-ts Sheet 1 Filed Oct. 14, 1950 MQECEZAUS c. wrEe/Ce INVENIORS w wN s. H. BIERCH E AL 2,679,966 ICE CREAM PACKAGING- MACHINE June' 1, 1954f Filed Oct. 14, 1950 VINVENTORS annex/5V June 1954 's. H. BE'RCH ETAL ICE CREAM PACKAGING MACHINE 13 Sheets-Sheet 3 WV @V Filed Oct. 14, l950 Elm v VQN INVENTORS HTTOEA/EV June 1954 s. H. BERCH ET AL ICE CREAM PACKAGING MACHINE l3 Sheets-Sheet 5 Fil ed Oct. 14, 1950 6 9 w m 4 7 o v a 9 a m w m l 4 2 m m m q H 8 5 8 5 9 fl u m H. 5 m

IQQ I .INVENTORS nrmeua June? 1, 195 f HQ -IBERCH; E J 'L' l f- ,6 9 96 I ICE CREAM PACKAGING MAiCHI NE 1 l 15 rshe' -sn em Filed Oct. 14, '-1950- IINVENTORS June 1,1954 s. H. BERCH ET AL 2,679,965

' ICE CREAM PACKAGING MACHINE Filed Oct. 14, 1950 15 Sheets-Sheet 7 224- a G6 Z57 O A 521% C I 247 i 1 255 I l 249 r I 19.14. I A 5 5 I I" 1 I I 1 r I file i 94 I am i i l A 522 I 256 254 lglllml z a vii/1 2% SHMUEL H. BEECH MflEC'-ZLU'S C. LUIEE/C'Z INVENTORS prraeA/Es June 1, 195 1.

Filed Oct. 14, 1950 II A WIIIIIII'IHIM S. H.- BERCH ET AL ICE CREAM PACKAGING MACHINE III! VII/A",

l3 Sheets-Sheet ll Sam/Ea H. 5520/ MfiecHa/s c. (arse/oz INVENTORS June 1954 s. H. BERCH ET AL ICE CREAM PACKAGING MACHINE l3 Sheets-Sheet 13 Filed Oct. 14, 1950 Patented June 1, 1954 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE ICE CREAM PACKAGING MACHINE Samuel H. Berch, Beverly Hills, and Marcellus C. Luterick, Montrose, Calif., assignors, by mesne assignments, to Diced Cream of America 00., Los Angeles, Calif., a corporation of Delaware Application October 14, 1950, Serial No. 190,202

2 Claims. 1

This invention relates to packaging apparatus and is particularly designed to provide certain improvements over the apparatus disclosed in U. S. Letters Patent No. 2,500,922, issued March 21, 1950, to Samuel H. Berch.

The apparatus shown in said patent, as well as the improvements disclosed herein, are especially adapted for packaging products with a semi-fluid consistency such as that of ice cream at the time it leaves a commercial freezer.

It is an object of our invention to provide an ice cream packaging machine for large volume production of small, closed, self-contained packages of ice cream such as those known in the trade as Diced Cream.

It is another object of the invention to provide such a machine which occupies a relatively small space and which is simple in construction, accessible for servicing and relatively free from operational difficulties.

The manner of accomplishing the foregoing objects, as well as further objects and advantages, will be made manifest in the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings in which:

Fig. 1 is a plan view of a preferred embodiment of the invention comprising a compact packaging machine mounting four production lines.

Fig. 2 is a side elevational view of Fig. 1 taken in the direction of the arrow 2 therein.

Fig. 3 is a horizontal sectional view taken on the line 3-3 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 4. is an enlarged fragmentary cross-sectional view taken on the line 4-4 in Fig. 1 and showing a container blank magazine and a suction device in the act of removing a blank from said magazine.

Fig. 5 is an enlarged fragmentary cross-sec tional view taken on the line 5-5 of Fig. 1 and showing said blank magazine and the feed means for feeding a blank removed from said magazine to the container forming device.

Fig. 6 is a diagrammatic enlarged fragmentary cross-sectional view taken on the line 56 of Fig. l and shows the mechanism for controlling the removal and feeding of a blank as illustrated in Figs. 4 and 5.

Fig. 7 is a plan view of a container blank suitable for use in said machine.

Fig. 8 is a plan view showing said blank as partly formed in an initial step of the container forming operation.

Fig. 9 is a view similar to Fig. 8 and illustrates the next step in said container forming opera tion.

Fig. 10 is an enlarged view similar to Fig. 9 and illustrates the completion of the formation of an open container from the blank shown in Fig. 7 with said container ready to be filled.

Fig. 11 is a plan view of the container shown in Fig. 10 as this appears after it has been filled and after an initial step in the closing and sealing of the container has taken place.

Fig. 12 is a perspective view of the container after this has been filled and fully closed and sealed.

Fig. 13 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view taken on the line l3l3 of Fig. 1 and illustrating the blank feeding and container forming mechanism.

Fig. 14 is a cross-section taken on the line iii-l4 of Fig. 13 and further illustrating the mechanism for actuating the container forming plungers of the invention. 7

Fig. 15 is an enlarged sectional detail taken on the line I5-I5 of Fig. 14 and showing a detent device which automatically releases the power drive from any one of the container forming plungers when the latter encounters an excessive resistance to its passage through the forming die.

Fig. 16 is an enlarged cross-sectional view taken on the line l6l8 of Fig. 14 and illustrates the construction of one of the buckets which constitutes a form for receiving a container and holding the same in its true shape while it is being filled, closed and sealed.

Fig. 1'7 is an enlarged diagrammatic vertical sectional view taken on the line l'lll of Fig. 3 and illustrates the intermittent drive for the production line chain conveyors which carry said container forming buckets in said machine.

Fig. 18 is an enlarged fragmentary detail view taken on line l8l8 of Fig. 1 and illustrates a detail of the construction of one of the ice cream container filling devices of the invention.

Fig. 19 is an enlarged composite cross-sectional view, the upper half of which is taken on line Iii-I9 of Fig. 1 and the lower half of which is taken on the line l9l9 of Fig. 3 and illustrates the construction of said filling device and the drive mechanism therefor.

Fig. 20 is an enlarged fragmentary detail view with portions thereof in section taken on the line 2i320 of Fig. 1 and illustrates the solenoid actuated flow cutoff mechanism associated with the delivery spouts in said container fillers.

Fig. 21 is a fragmentary bottom plan detail view looking upwards as indicated by arrow 2! in Fig. 20.

Fig. 22 is an enlarged diagrammatic cross-sectional view taken on the line 2222 of Fig. 2 and illustrates the container kick-out mechanism and the drive means therefor.

Fig. 23 is an enlarged diagrammatic sectional view taken on the line 23-23 of Fig. 2 and illustrates the drive mechanism for the device for accomplishing the initial step in the closing and sealing operation.

Fig. 24 is an enlarged diagrammatic sectional view taken on the line 24-2 of Fig. 2 and illustrates the drive mechanism for the device for performing the final step in the container closing and sealing operation.

Fig. 25 is an enlarged cross-sectional view taken on the line 2525 of Fig. l and shows the device for performing the initial step in the closing of the container in its inward position in which one flap of the container is folded across the same.

Fig. 26 is a fragmentary detail sectional view taken on line 2626 of Fig. 25 and illustrates the mounting of a device for performing the final step of closin and sealing said container.

Fig. 2'? is a view similar to Fig. 25 and illustrates the next following step in the container closing and sealing operation.

Fig. 28 is a View similar to Fig. 27 showing the device which performed an initial step in the container closing operation withdrawn and a device for performing the final step closing upon the container.

Fig. 29 is a view similar to Fig. 28 and illustrates the final step in the container closing and sealing operation in which the second flap is presed down upon the container and the ears thereof are extended into open pockets formed by gussets alongside said container.

Fig. 30 is a diagrammatic sectional view taken on the line 3fl-3il of Fig. 25 and illustrates the initial step in the container closing operation from a different angle.

Fig. 31 is a view similar to Fig. 30 which was taken on the line 3l3! of Fig. 28.

Fig. 32 is a view similar to Fig. 31 and is taken on line 32-32 of Fig. 29.

Fig. 33 is a diagram illustrating th different functions performed by the several mechanisms in said machine during a single revolution of the drive shaft of said machine.

Referring specifically to the drawings, the invention is there shown as embodied in a packaging machine as having a rectangular housing 35 including angle iron corner posts 3'! and intermediate posts 38, on which posts are mounted a top shelf 39, an intermediate shelf 48 and a heavy bottom shelf ii. The open spaces in th sides and ends of the housing 35 are covered by panels 42, which are removably secured in place by screws 13.

The machine 34 is provided with a main driving motor 44 (Fig. 3) which is mounted on a base plate 45 the latter being slideable in guides 46, which are secured on bottom shelf M. The plate 45 is adjustably related to the shelf 45 by a screw 41 for adjusting the tightness of a belt d8 which may be trained about a drive pulley 39 of the motor 44. Belt 48 connects pulley 49 with a pulley 52, the latter being fixed on a countershaft 53 which is mounted in a bearing 54, secured to bottom self H. The shaft 53 operates through a clutch 55 controlled by a clutch lever 56 to drive a driven shaft 5'! which is mounted in a bearing 58, also secured to bottom shelf ll. The shaft 5! has a belt pulley 59 fixed thereon. The clutch lever 56 is connected with handles Hand 4 19 (Figs. 1 and 2) for the operation of clutch 55 from the outside of housing 35.

A second belt 50 is trained around pulley 53 and around a belt pulley 3| fixed on a driving shaft 62 of a reducing gear 63. A driven shaft 84 of the reducing gear 63 journals in a bearing 35 secured to the bottom shelf ll, and through beveled gears 66 and 61 drives shaft 68 which is mounted in bearings 69 and 10 provided on shelf 41. Shaft 68 carries a beveled gear H which engages with a beveled gear l1 mounted on a main driving shaft 12 which journals in bearings l3, l4, l5 and 16 secured upon the bottom self 41 and which drives the component mechanisms of the machine 34.

Container blank feed.

The main drive shaft 12 (Fig. 3) has mounted thereon at the righthand end thereof a cam 88 engaging a roller follower 81 (Fig. 6) mounted on a pin 82 secured in a plate 83 having an elongated slot 84 therein which rides over the sleeve of the cam 86, said plate being secured at its upper end to the lower end of a length of rod 85 by bolts 88. Rod '85 is guided for vertical movement by bushings 81 secured to the shelf 40 and is adjustably connected by a turnbuckle 88 to a length of rod 83 projecting through the top shelf 39 of the housing. A length of rack 93 is secured to the upper end of rod 89 and engages with gear 31 mounted on a shaft 32 carried in the side member 93 of a frame Ml (Fig. 5) extending across the righthand end of the machine as seen in Fig. 2 and supported above the top shelf 3!! of the housing of the machine by vertical members 95. It is to be noted that the main drive shaft '32 extends centrally and longitudinally of the machine, and that the machine operates simultaneously on four identical container forming, filling, closing and discharging lines. The rod 39 is therefore arranged between the second and third lines, gear 9i being positioned in a machined out space in a bearing block 95 (Fig. 6) mounted by studs 97 midway of the front wall 93 of frame 95.

Since there are four identical production lines, only one will be fully described together with mechanism common to the four lines.

Pairs of spaced vertical members 99 and Hill (Figs. 1 and 2) are arranged at each side of frame $4 and between each production line, and horizontal strips H35 and H12 are secured between the vertical members 39 and 1553.

Each of the four magazines holding the container blanks is formed by short vertical lengths of angle H0, HI, H2, H3 (Fig. 1) secured in rectangular arrangement to the strips 10!, I82. Small angular strips or other supports Nd and H5 are arranged across the vertical lengths of angles H0 and HI and H2 and H3 respectively so as to support a stack of the blanks in a slightly inclined position.

The top of frame 94 is covered by sheet metal plates H6 which have suitable openings to provide clearance for parts operating on the blanks.

The blanks are withdrawn downwardly from the magazines by suction arms H1 (Fig, 4) one of which is arranged under each magazine, secured to shaft 92, the drive for which has been described, for oscillatory movement therewith. A small bowlshaped head H8, formed with passages H9, is screwed into the end of each arm i I7, and a rubber cup I20 is mounted on the head M8 to extend slightly above the rim thereof.

Suction is transmitted through arm II! to the interior of head H8 and of cup I20 through the bore in the arm and passages in the head from suction line I2! through a length of flexible tubing I22 pushed onto nipples I23 and I24 secured to line I2 I and to arm I I1 respectively.

Suction is set up in line I2I by an electrically driven vacuum pump I25 (Fig. 3), pipe line I26, vacuum valve I 21, which is opened once during each revolution of a cam I28 secured on main drive shaft I2 which operates to push plunger I29 into the valve body, the plunger being urged outwardly by a spring (not shown). The suction is transmitted from valve I27 through pipe line I30, manually adjustable valve I3I (Fig. 2) to line I2I, which is fitted with a vacuum gage I32. Shaft 92 normally holds each arm II'I out of contact with the bottom blank in each magazine by the action of a coil spring 133 in tension between an arm I3 1 secured to rod 89 and an ear I35 secured to shelf 45. By reference to Fig. 33 it will be noted that suction is set up in the suction line during the first half rotation of the driving shaft 12 during which time the arm Ill has been swung upwardly to bring suction cup I I8 against the inclined bottom blank in each magazine as shown in Fig. 4, and withdraws the blank from the magazine to the limit of the downward movement of the cup IIS, which in the latter position lies just below the level of the plates I I underlying each magazine.

The blanks withdrawn from the magazines rest upon the top of the plates I I6 and are pushed forwardly into position to be operated upon by pusher elements operated at timed intervals from the main drive shaft I2 by a cam I37 secured to main drive shaft I2 (Figs. 3 and 6), said cam working against a roller I38 mounted on a stud I39 secured to a plate I l!) having a slot I iI therein sliding over the sleeve of said cam. Plate I lll is secured by bolts I42 to a rod I43 guided for reciprocation through a hole in shelf 58 by a bushing I43. A coil spring Hi4 secured under tension between an arm I 45 fixed on rod I 13, and an ear M6 secured to shelf 40, holds roller I33 against cam I31.

A gear wheel I 41 is journalled in a slot machined vertically into the end of the rod I43 on a pin I48, the ends of which are supported in a hole drilled through the sides of the slot in the rod. The end of the rod projects into a channel machined in a casting I49 secured to the top shelf 33 of the machine and projecting upwardly above the level of the top of the frame 94 between the second and third magazines. A short length of rack I59 positioned to mesh with gear I41 is secured by screws I5! in a channel provided in the casting I49 and a double rack I52 is mounted in a channel of the casting to engage with pinion I i'l on the opposite side to that engaging with rack I56. The result of this arrangement is that rack I52 will be moved in the same direction as rod I43 but through twice the distance. A gear wheel I53 is mounted to engage with the side of the double rack I52 opposite to that which engages gear Id'I. Gear I53 is mounted in a recess machined in the casting I43 and rotates freely on a pin I5i secured in the wall of the recess. An idler gear I55 is mounted below gear I53 in a recess machined in the casting I49 and rotates freely on a pin I55 secured in the wall of the recess, The described arrangement of gears III'I, I53 and I55 acts to steady the rack I52 in movement while the upper end of rod I43 is steadied by the engagement of the gear I I'I mounted thereon with racks I52 and I50.

. magazine.

The amount of movement given the rod I 43 and rack I52 in upward direction is dependent on the throw of cam I31, but an adjustment is provided for the amount of downward movement of the rack and therefore of the rod I 43. This adjustment is efiected by a stop or limit nut I57 (Fig. 6) mounted on a threaded stem I58 secured in any suitable way to the top of the rack and projecting through a hole I 59 drilled through the top of the casting I 49.

The means acting to move the blanks withdrawn from the magazine and feed them to means for folding the blanks into containers are driven by means of a gear I60 mounted in a recess in casting M3 and meshing with gear I53. Gear IE0 is secured to a shaft I5I (Fig. 5) extending through the casting and across frame 34 below and in front of the magazine. The ends of shaft I5I are mounted in bearings in the sides of the frame. Two chain sprockets I52 (Fig. 5) are keyed to shaft I5! below each magazine, and a little inwardly of the sides thereof. Chain sprockets I33 are aligned with sprockets I62 mounted to rotate freely on shaft 92. An endless chain I'bd is trained over sprockets I52 and I63, the upper run of the chain being guided for horizontal. movement by a horizontal plate I65 secured by its edges to plates H5 and engaging against the under side of the chains.

Mounted on the upper run of the chain I 54 are blank feeder or pusher elements I66 which travel in slots in the metal plates H5 under the magazines and are provided with blank engaging heads t ll which travel just above the upper surface of the plates I 55 and below the bottom blank in each It is to be noted that the vertical angles forming the corners of the magazines are machined so that they clear heads I 5?.

By reference to Fig. 33 it will be noted: that the blank feeder elements I56 are retracted to the outside of the magazines, as shown in Fig. 5, while the suction arms II? with their cups I20 engage the bottom blank in each magazine and have reached the stay or dwell position outside the magazine before the suction arms and cups being their downward movement, pulling the yieldable blanks past the small angle brackets on which the stacks of blanks are supported. The pusher feeder elements begin their forward movement immediately suction is broken to the cups I25 and after the latter parts have reached their stay or dwell position just below the level of the top surface of plates I I3.

The form of the blanks I85 is clearly shown in Fig. 7 and consists of a square center section ISI which is scored to define, when folded, a bottom panel I32, four side panels I83, Idd, I65, I36, the bottom and side panels forming a cross in the flat blank, and gussets on foldable corner pieces of rectangular shape before folding, between the side panels, but the gussets are each scored along a center diagonal line running outwardly from the junction between the adjacent side panels at an angle of 45 to the borderline of the gussets. The gusset parts are indicated by the numerais IIi'I, I83, I89, I59, I9I, I92, I53, and I313 running clockwise around the bottom panel I82. G-ussets Isl, I88 and I33 and I54 are cut away as indicated in Fig. 7 for a purpose later explained when describing the closing of the cups. An inner cover panel E35 projects from side panel I83 and terminates in a tab I95. An outer or top cover I9? projects from the side panel I85 and is formed with lateral sealing flaps I 98, I99.

The blanks I are positioned in the maga zines with the inner cover panels I95 all pointing toward the right as seen when looking from the magazines along the length of the machine, and therefore with all the outer covers or tops l9! extending in the opposite direction, as shown in Fig. 1.

After the bottom blanks in each magazine have been pulled down as described and engaged by the pusher heads 161 of the feeding mechanism, they are moved into position under container forming mechanism, being guided by upstanding flanges 20!! (Figs. 1 and 13) extending along the edges of the plates 1 it under each magazine and accurately located with reference to the container forming mechanism by stops 20! (Fig. 13) secured to the plates HS. It will be seen that the travel of the feeding elements must be capable of accurate adjustment to bring the blanks just up to the stops 26L this adjustment being provided, as previously described, by manipulation of nuts (5?.

The forming mechanism comprises a container folding die 219 which is similar in all material respects to the folding die utilized in the prior patent of Samuel H. Berch No. 2,500,922 to which reference may be made for specific details of construction. The die is arranged below openings 2H l (Figs. 13 and 14) in plates I it aligned with square plungers 2l2 which are moved downwardly at timed intervals, each downstroke of the plungers first engaging the bottom section (22 of the blank and forcing it downwardly through the die which is eifective to fold the blank along the scored lines therein around the end of the plunger.

The successive folding positions of the die blank are shown in Figs. 8, 9 and 10. In Fig. 8 the side panels EM and tilt have been folded against the sides of the plunger 2 I2 while the gusset portions I88, I89, Hi2 and i933 have been pulled into vertical position, in turn pulling the portions of the gussets toward side panels 183 and 85 into upwardly inclined position as indicated by the inclined outer borders of portions 181, I98, I81 and I93 in Fig. 8 and causing side panels [83 and M5 to be pulled upwardly.

Side panel E85 and the to cover 81 are then folded against the sides of the plunger 252 with inward gusset portions I89 and 592 folded against the outside of the upturned side panels I83 and it and side gusset portions I98 and i9! folded flat against the outside of gusset portions 89 and I92, as shown in Fig. 9, the sealing flaps 198 and iii-: of the top cover i5! being bent toward the container. In the position in which the container is pushed clear of the die, the inner cover panel $95 has been pressed flat against the side of the plunger and the gusset portions 188 and 93 have been folded flat against the outside of gusset por tions i5 3 and fill as shown in Fig. 10, in which condition the containers are stripped off the ends of the plungers and carried to filling mechanism as later explained.

There are no moving parts cooperating with the folding dies 210 other than the plungers 2l2, the lower ends of which are provided with slots 213 in the sides transverse to the direction of travel of the blanks and extending from the lower edge upwardly for a purpose to be explained later. The folded container is held flat against the plunger while passing between the bottom of the die and the top of a bucket positioned to receive the formed container by downwardly extending strips 2 I4 and 2l5 (Figs. 13 and 14) The plungers are guided for'vertical reciprocating movement by vertical ro'ds2l9, 22b, 22! (Figs.

' plunger.

8 v 1 and 14) secured at their lower ends in flanged tubular fittings 222 and 223 which can be seen in Fig. 1 secured to the top shelf at of the main housing 35. Rods H9, 229 and and 22f are secured attheir upper ends to a crossbar 224 (Figs. 1 and 14) from which depend secondary guide rods 225 to 232 (Fig. 1) secured at their upper ends in the crossbar in any suitable manner. A crosshead 233 (Fig. 14) is mounted to slide upward and downward on vertical rods 219, 226 and 22f and upon the secondary guide rods aforesaid.

The crosshead 223 is vertically reciprocated by a pair of rods 23:; and 235 (Fig. 3) secured at their upper ends in the crosshead and guided through the top shelf 35} of the main housing 35 by bearing sleeves 238 having flanges 23? secured to the top shelf 39. Below the top shelf 39, the rods 23% and 235 carry lengths of rack 23S and 239 welded or otherwise secured to the rods. The rods and racks mounted thereon extend downwardly through openings in shelf 49 and are guided at their lower ends in bearings 24G (Fig. 3) secured to the bottom shelf M of the housing. The racks 238 and 239 are reciprocated vertically from the main drive shaft as later described. The operating means for rod 235 duplicate those of rod 234 and are not shown.

The movement of the crosshead 233 is transmitted to each of plungers 212 through safety release connections generally indicated at 245 (Fig. 15) which normally secures the crosshead to a bar 2%, drilled with holes guiding it for vertical movement on the secondary guide rods 225 to 232. A separate bar 2% is provided for each All the safety connections are identical in arrangement, and a pair of such connections is provided for each plunger.

The safety release connections 245 is shown in detail in Fig. 15 and comprises a block 25'! secured in a recess 253 in the crosshead 233 by a bolt 2%, and extending into a recess 25;] in the bars 246. I

The blocks 2 are releasably connected to bars 248 by means of small plungers 25! and 252 mounted in holes 253 and 25d drilled in the bars, having heads 255 and 256 seating in recesses 25? and 258 in the opposite faces of blocks 24?. The plungers are resiliently urged against the block 2e? by coil springs 25s and 28?) mounted under compression between flanges 26l and 262 at the back of the heads of the plungers and threaded plugs and 28:2 screwed into the threaded outer ends of the holes 253 and 25 5. The heads of the plungers project through holes of smaller diameter than, but co-axial with, holes 253 and 25%, the flanges 26! and 262 therefore being effective to prevent the plungers from leaving the drilled holes in which they are mounted should some 01,- struction to the downward movement of any of the forming plungers cause the crosshead 233 to be pulled away from the bars 246 in which the upper end of the forming plunger is mounted. Each forming plunger 212 is secured rigidly in its associated bar 246 by a length of rod 265 which is secured by set screws 266 in the bar 245 and by set screws 26? in the forming plunger.

The operation of theforming plungers 212 by the main drive shaft '52 may be understood by referring to Fig. 3.

The racks 233 and 239 on rods 234 and 235 mesh with gears 258 on shafts 269 mounted in bearings 2lll and 2H secured to the base plate 4| of the housing. Smaller gears 2'52 mounted on the shaft 269 mesh with rack teeth 213 formed at each end portion of a bar 274" mounted for reciprocation in bearings 215 secured to the base plate 41 of the housing. The bar 214 is provided with a laterally projecting stud 216 which engages in a cam groove (not shown) machined in the side face of a cam member 211, secured on the main drive shaft 12. Thus the rotation of the main drive shaft causes reciprocation of the forming plungers in timed relation to the mechanism feeding the blanks, as shown in Fig. 33. It is to be understood that the driving arrangement for rods 234 and 235 is identical but only the drive for rod 234 is shown in Fig. 3.

Container bucket conveyor The folded containers carried on the lower ends of the plungers passing through the folding dies are deposited in buckets 283 formed as parts of an endless chain, the driving means for which will first be described with reference to Figs. 3 and 17.

Toward the lefthand end of the machine, as seen in Fig. 3, a bevel gear '28! is secured to the main drive shaft l2 and meshes with a bevel gear 282 secured to a cam drive shaft 283 mounted in bearings 284 and 235 secured to the lower shelf 4| of the housing.

On shaft 283 is mounted a drive element or cam 286 formed as a turn and a half of a modified worm but only the entering and leaving portions of the worm 286 have any lead. Engaging in the worm 286 are conical teeth 281, eight in number, projecting downwardly from a horizontal plate 288 (Fig.17) the teeth being spaced equally around the plate on pins 289 secured to the plate by nuts 290. The pins are so arranged that as one moves out of engagement with the worm the next pin moves into engagement with the worm.

The plate 288 is fixed on a vertical shaft 29| mounted at its lower end inv a bearing 292 secured to the bottom shelf 4| of the housing and projecting upwardly through the shelf 40 and a bearing 293 secured to said shelf.

Fixed upon the upper end of the shaft 29l is a bevel gear 294 which meshes with a bevel gear 295 secured on a-horizontal shaft 296 extending transversely across the housing and supported in bearings (not shown) carried by the frame 30. A second horizontal shaft 291 (Fig. 13) is mounted parallel to shaft 296 but at the opposite end of the machine frame 35 in bearings (not shown) provided on said frame.

On both shafts 296 and 23? four chain wheels are arranged, the chain wheels on shaft 296 being aligned with the chain wheels on shaft 291.

Since the chain wheels and chains are identical only one unit will be described and Figs. 13, 16 and 17 are referred to for illustration thereof. The chain wheels secured on shaft 296 are indicated at 299 (Fig. 17) and the chain wheels on shaft 29! are indicated at 300 (Fig. 13).

A chain generally indicated at 305 is mounted on each pair of chain wheels 299 and 300. The chain is formed as an endles band composed of units of a number of links 306 of roller chain and bucket members 289 spaced at equal distances from each other. The construction of the buckets 2813 is clearly shown in Fig. 16 and comprises a base 243 having a pair of downwardly extending lugs 308 and 309 at each end spaced to extend over the outer end of the adiacent links of the chain and be secured to said links by pins 340 extending through the lugs,

links and the usual bushings 3H which are arranged on pins connecting the links in roller chains. Above the lugs 308 and 3133 the base 243 is laterally extended to provide supporting flanges 242 engaging on the lower run with longitudinally extending support strips 3l2 mounted by vertical supports 3|3 on shelf 44 of the housing, and supporting strips 314 mounted on the shelf 39 of the housing by spacers 3l5, the supporting strips being effective to hold the chain and buckets in horizontal position.

A body member 3H5 is mounted on the base 243, being accurately located thereon by pins 35? secured in the base and extending into bores in the body 348 which is secured to the base by machine screws 358. The body 3| 6 is provided with an upstanding front end wall 3l9, and a back end wall 320, the sides of the body being .open. A large orifice 24! is provided through the base. The containers placed in the buckets 289 are supported along the open sides of the buckets by longitudinally extending flat guide bars 32! and 322 (Fig. 1) mounted on the shelf 39 of the machine housing 35.

The tops of the front and back walls SIS and 323 (Fig. 16) are inwardly beveled as indicated at 323 and 324 and are undercut to provide narrow shoulders 3'25 and 323 from which the inner faces of the walls are inclined downwardly and inwardly to the bottom of the walls. The height of the walls from the bottom to the underside of shoulders 325 is sufficient to receive the folded side panels of the containers below them and the outer portions I81 and E34 of the gussets (Fig. 10) and incline away from the inner'gussets just sufiiciently to enable the sealing flaps I98 and M9 to be positioned between them and gusset portions I88 and I93.

Flatbodied hooks 32'! and 328 (Fig. 16) are mounted in slots cut through walls 3l9 and 32D, midway of their length, the hooks being pivotally mounted on pins 329 and 330. The backs of the hooks are formed as fiat strips 33] and 332 extending at right angles to the body of the hooks and limiting the inward movement of the hooks in the slots in which they are mounted. The backs of the hooks are extended below the pivotal mounting of the hooks and bent outwardly to form tails 3'33 and 334. Pins 335 and 333 are secured to tails 333 and 334 and are aligned with holes 33! and 338 drilled into the walls of the buckets below the slot. Small coil springs 339 and 340 are mounted in compression between tails 333 and 334 and the inner ends of the holes in the walls. The outer ends of the springs are mounted around the pins 335 and 336 and bear against the tails 333 and 334.

lhe heads of the hooks are rounded inwardly as indicated at 3 and 342 and are provided with well defined hooked upper inner ends 343 and 344 which are received in the slot M3 formed in the side faces of the forming plungers 2I2 and which normally project inwardly of the shoulders 325 and 323 and hold the edges of the folded containers open but do not contact the cutaway outer gussets IE1 and m. The forming plungers at the end of their downward movement push the sides of the container below shoulders 32B and hooked ends 344. The hooks act to strip the containers from the plungers, as the latter return upward.

The intermittent movement of the chain 305 and bucket 30'! locates a bucket below the forming plungers and it is held in that position by the no-lead portion of the worm 286 (see Figs. 3 and 17) engaging with a conical tooth on the chain driving disc 288 during the downward movement of the forming plungers to fold and deposit a cup in the bucket, as diagrammatically shown in Fig, 33, and after the plungers have been retracted upwardly, the chains are rapidly moved by the lead portion of the cam worm 286, moving the buckets with containers therein toward the filling means and another transverse row of buckets under the bank of forming plungers.

Container filling mechanism The mechanism for filling the containers is shown in Figs, 1, 2, 3, 16, 17, 18 and 19 and is driven from the main drive shaft 12' through a bevel gear 35!! (Fig. 3) secured to said shaft and driving a bevel gear 35! secured on a shaft 352.

It is pointed out that bevel gear 359 also drives an identical shaft 352 and parts operated thereby, which duplicate the parts now to be described and are not therefore shown.

The shaft 352 is mounted in bearings 3-53 and 354 secured to the shelf 41 of the housing 35 of the machine.

A bevel gear 355 (Fig. 19) is secured to the end of shaft 352 and engages with a bevel gear 356 secured on a vertical shaft 351 mounted at its lower end in a bearing (not shown) secured to the shelf 41 of the housing 35, and journalling at its upper end in a bearing 358 secured to the underside of shelf 40.

Secured to the upper end of shaft 351 is a disc 359 having mounted thereon a proof pin 366 secured in the plate by nut 361, a roller 362 being mounted on proof pin 366. A detent plate 363 is formed integral with disc 359 or is secured thereto, and provided with a cutout 364 as in the usual Geneva construction. The roller 352 engages in the slots 365 of a Geneva drive wheel 366, having eight such slots, and mounted on a sleeve 361 keyed to a pump frame 368 having a central boss 315 bored to fit on the sleeve and having a radial plate like flange 316 which is supported for rotation on a platform 369 supported by vertical members 319 from the top shelf 39 of the housing. Sleeve 361 is guided by a bearing sleeve 31l secured to top shelf 39 which is provided with a hole for passage of the sleeve. By the construction described the pump frame 368 is intermittently rotated to eight positions in each complete revolution of the Geneva wheel 366.

A circular track 313 (Fig. 19) concentric with the axis of the sleeve 361 is cut in platform 359 in which is mounted a wide ring 313 which constitutes the lower member of the pump frame, the upper member of the frame being provided by a plate 314 having a central hole 311 closely fitting the central boss 315. Plate 314 and ring 313 are machined to provide eight cylinder barrel seats 316 and 319 in which cylinder barrels 360 are fitted, and the plate and ring are drawn together by bolts 381 (Fig. 18), thus clamping the cylinder barrels in place, to provide a rigid assembly.

The pump assembly is rotated from frame 368 (see Fig. 13) by clamps 345 formed as bridge pieces having one end 382 resting on frame 368 and the other end 363 resting on the ring 313, which is provided with a number of projections 384 (Fig. 19) fitting in corresponding recesses in member 316. Tall stems 335 having reduced diameter threaded lower ends and having their heads projecting through openings in plate 314,

engage against the top of members 345 and pass through plain holes therein into threaded holes in member 316 and are provided with knurled heads 346 by which. the pressure between ring 313 and platform 369 may be adjusted.

A pump piston 331 is mounted in each cylinder with its piston rod 383 extending outwardly through an externally threaded bushing 389 screwed into a threaded hole centrally drilled in each cylinder seat in plate 314, and held in adjusted position by a lock nut 396. The upper end of each piston rod is fitted with a wear button 39%. King 313 and platform 369 are provided with aligned holes 392 and 393 of slightly less diameter than the barrels 386.

At diametrically opposite points on the under side of platform 369 and transversely of the direction of travel of the buckets 296, filling spouts 392 are secured, as for instance by flathead screws 333 (Fig. 19) while at diametrically spaced points between the filling spouts ice cream supply pipes 394 (Fig. l) are connected to threaded union members 395 also aligned with openings 392' and 393' in advance of the filling spouts 392 in the direction of rotation of frame 368. As the pump cylinders are brought by rotation of frame 368 over the openings admitting ice cream under pressure from pipes 394 to the cylinders, the ice cream fills the cylinders pushing each piston to its upmost position. Later in its rotation, each piston rod so elevated is brought to position under a double armed member 396 operated to force said rod and the piston thereon downwardly and discharge the ice cream through a filling spout 392 into an open container in a bucket temporarily standing below the filling spout.

The means for operating member 396 are driven directly from the main driving shaft 12 and comprise a cam 4139 (Figs. 3 and 19) secured to the shaft 12 and formed with a cam groove 461 in a side face thereof. A roller 662 mounted on a pitman 463 by a pin 464 is engaged in the groove in the facev of cam 6B9. Pitman 683 is guided for horizontal reciprocatory movement by a sleeve 495 mounted on the shaft and provided with a radial flange 408 which abuts the outer lateral face of the pitman and holds roller 662 in the groove in the cam. The pitman is cut out to ride on a hub 466 projecting from the cam.

The opposite end of the pitman 653 is provided with a length of rack 663 which engages with a pinion 369 secured on a short shaft M6 carried in bearings in a vertically mounted casting 41 I secured to the base plate 61 of the housing directly below sleeve 361. A larger gear 112 is also secured to shaft 410 and engages with a rack 413 secured to a rod 314 mounted for vertical reciprocation within sleeve 361. Double armed member 396 is provided with a square socket 455 fitting on a square and H6 at the upper end of rod 4-114 and is secured thereon by a nut #51 screwed onto a threaded extension 118 of rod 314 and bearing down on member 396.

When the pistons 381 of the cylinders resting below the member 396 have been fully depressed cut-off means shown in Figs. 3, 20 and 21 are operated. The cut-off means generally indicated at 423 in Fig. 20 are operated by a cam 424- secured on shaft 64 (Fig. 3) which operates a plunger type switch 425 connected in the circuit of a solenoid 426 mounted on a bracket 348 secured to and between right and lefthand platforms 369. The plunger 421 of the solenoid is resiliently held in projected position by a coil spring 422 secured at one end to an abutment 429 on a bar 949 which is secured to the platforms, and at its other end is connected to a link 430 connected at one end to the plunger 42?. The plunger is connected by the other end of the link 43% to an arm 43! secured to a shaft 432 extending transversely of the direction of movement of the containers supported in the buckets 28!}, and supported in bearings 433 secured to the underside of the top shelf 39 of the housing 35. Arms 444 are secured to shaft 432 in alignment with each filling station and are connected to cut-off blades 445. Each blade 445 comprises a flat metal strip guided in slots 446 out across the lower end of the filling spouts 392 and the strip is bent up at its outer end to provide flanges 44? secured to an arm 444 by a small bolt 4%. The metal of the blade is cut out at its forward end as indicated at 449 in a curve approximating that of the opening 356 at the bottom of the fil ing spout 392. An opening 456 is cut in the blade 445 immediately behind the cutaway at the front end of the blade, leaving a narrow ice cream shearing portion 309 of the blade which can be moved through the ice cream in its path with very little effort or drag on the ice cream.

Container closing and sealing mechanism The filled containers in their buckets are then moved into position within container closing and sealing mechanism indicated generally at 461 (Fig. 2) and each comprising a closing mechanism 4G2 and a sealing mechanism 493 as indicated in Figs. 25 and 2'7.

The closing mechanisms 462 which, of course, are duplicated for each production line, are driven in common directly from the main driving shaft l2 as shown in Figs. 3 and 23 by a cam 455i secured on shaft l2 and provided with a cam groove 452 in its side face. A roller 453 is mounted on a pin 38! secured to a plate 454 secured to a vertical shaft 455 and rides in the cam groove. Shaft 455 is guided for vertical reciprocation by a vertical sleeve bearing 456 secured to the base plate 43 of the housing and into which the lower end of shaft 455 is fitted. A short rack 458 is mounted on the upper end of shaft 455 within bearing 45? and meshes with a gear 459 secured on a shaft 459 extending transr versely of the underside of the housing top shelf 99 and supported at its ends in bearings (not shown) carried by the housing.

Secured on shaft 4% below each closing mechanism 462 is a gear 494 which engages with a short rack 455 secured to a rod 466 mounted for vertical reciprocation in a small housing 46'? secured to the underside of the housing top shelf Rod 495 extends through an opening in shelf 39 and its upper end is guided in a small housing =29? secured to said shelf. The upper end of the rod 458 is formed with rack teeth 498 meshing with a gear 499 mounted on a shaft 419 on which closing member ill is mounted. Shaft 459 is supported in bearings in housing 467' and in a bearin member 412 located on the further side of the closing member and secured to the housing top 39. The operation of the closing member will be later described with reference to Figs. 25 through 29.

The sealing mechanism 463 is directly driven from the main driving shaft '12 as shown in Fig. 24 by a cam 4'35 secured on shaft '12 and having a cam groove 476 formed in its side face. A roller t'll is mounted on a plate 4'l8 on a pin 392 projecting therefrom. Plate 418 is secured to a ver- 14 tical shaft 419. Roller 41"! engages in cam groove 415 in cam 475. The lower end of shaft 419 is guided in a vertical leeve bearing 499 secured to the lower shelf 4| of the machine housing 35 and the upper end of the shaft is guided in a small housing 393 secured to the underside of the main housing top 39. A short rack 49l is mounted on the upper part of rod 4'19 and meshes with a gear 482 within housing 393 secured on a shaft 483 extended transversely of the main housing top and is supported at its ends in bearings (not shown) secured to the main housing top. Below each sealing mechanism 393 a small housing 484 is secured to the underside of the main housing top 39. Shaft 483 extends through housings 484 and a gear 495 is secured on the shaft within each housing. A vertical rod 4% is mounted in each housing and a rack 49"! is secured to the lower end of the rod and meshes with gear 495. Rod 439 extends upwardly through the top of the main housing into a housing 488 secured to the top of the main housing and formed to receive and guide the upper portion of shaft 489 in which rack teeth 439 are cut.

A gear 4% meshes with rack teeth 499 and is secured on a shaft 49!, one end of which is carried in bearings in housing 489 and the other end of which is supported in a bearing member 492 spaced laterally from housing 498 (Fig. 1). Each sealing member 495 mounted on shaft 49! is formed of two parts of which one, 4%, is immovably secured on shaft 49I and is formed as a rectangular plate of the same area as the top of the containers holding ice cream, and supported in the buckets, while the second part 498 (Fig, 26) is arranged to be against the back of part 491, and is pivotally mounted on shaft 49l by drilled lugs 498 extending from the part and surrounding shaft 49 l. Part 496 is provided with forwardly projecting wings 499 and 509 extending beyond the sides of plate 497 and spaced apart the exact width of the outer cover of the container when the sealing flaps of the top cover have been bent forward at right angles to the top cover. Parts 496 and 49l are normally held together by the legs of a spring 394 wound around shaft 49I between fingers 498 formed by bending the ends of the spring into parallelism.

The sequence of operations of the closing member 47! and sealing member 495 are shown in Figs. 24, 25, 27 and 28. Cam 45! first operates to raise shaft 455 which through the various racks and gears rotates shafts 4T0 clockwise. The closing member 4' is therefore swung towards the inner cover 595. Closing member 4' comprises an upper portion at right angles to its lower portion, which is swung from the upwardly inclined position of Fig. 24 into the position shown in Fig. 25 in which the lower portion of member 4' has pressed the inner cover l flat and horizontal on the top of the filled container, while the tab Hi6, which projects from the outer edge of the inner cover, has contacted, while still in the plane of the inner cover, the upstanding outer cover, and the sharp angle between the upper and lower portions of the clos- 

